Alexander the

Great

Ruler of the World

Why “the Great”?

In ten years, Alexander of Macedonia created the largest empire in the world up to that time

Alexander spread Greek culture, ensuring cultural diffusion and the survival of the qualities of classical Greece

Alexander’s Empire

Alexander’s Origins

Born in Pella, Macedonia

Tutored by the Greek

philosopher, Aristotle

His father, Philip, was king of Macedonia, and had conquered the Greek city states during his 27 year reign

Olympia

Alexander’s

mother

Philip

Alexander’s

father

Alexander Rules

Philip was murdered in 336 B.C. by an assassin…maybe hired by his wife, Olympia…

So Alexander was only 20

when he became king of

Macedonia

Securing his father’s empire

Alexander squelched rebellions in the northern regions to the Danube River

In the process of reconquering the Greek city states, his forces destroyed Thebes, massacring all,

including women and children

From Pompeii mosaic

Expanding the EmpireAlexander’s forces of over 40,000 crossed at the Dardanelles into Asia, where he declared that the whole of Asia would be won by the spear

The Gordian Knot: the legend behind the

ancient knot was that the man who could

untie it was destined to rule the entire

world.

Alexander simply slashed the knot with

his sword and unraveled it.

The Gordian Knot

Defeating Darius

of PersiaAlexander’s forced dispatched the

Persian army, losing only 110 men (legend)

Again Alexander was victorious, and Darius was forced to flee, abandoning is mother, wife and children to Alexander

Major cities in Asia Minor and along the Phoenician coast surrendered to Alexander

Alexander proceeded to Egypt, where he established the city of Alexandria and was made pharaoh

#3: Yet again, Alexander’s forces defeated Darius, this time in Mesopotamia…

Alexander was proclaimed king of Persia and Darius’s royal city and palace were burned to the ground…

Again, Darius fled… Alexander pursued…

Persepolis

When Darius was found murdered by his own men, Alexander executed the assassins and gave Darius a royal funeral

Ruins of

Persepolis

The limits of expansion

In the spring of 327 BC, Alexander and his army marched into India

As he conquered regions he allowed rulers to continue to govern in his name

In India, Alexander’s horse was killed…

'O my son, look thee

out a kingdom equal

to and worthy of

thyself, for Macedonia

is too little for thee.'

Philip to Alexander

(Plutarch, Alexander 6.8.)

Alexander on his favorite horse, Bucephalus

He mourned his loss

and named a city in

his honor

Bucephalus

Retreat

At the Indus, the Macedonians rebelled and refused to go any farther

The forces travelled down the Indus and began the arduous journey back to MesopotamiaHis best friend, Hephaestion,

died of a fever; to console himself, Alexander led a ferocious military campaign and went on a drinking binge

Securing a legacy

Alexander made Babylonia the capital of his Empire

He married one of Darius’ daughters and “encouraged” 10,000 of his soldiers to take Persian wives

He died the following year at 33 before he could produce an heir and his kingdom was divided among 3 of his generals

Antigonus

Ptolemy

Seleucus

The mystery of Alexander’s death

Alexander died of a fever at 33… but why?

Plutarch reports that he was had been plagued by several bad “omens”

Some others from the time claimed Alexander was poisoned during the drinking binge

Credit to Fulton Schools

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